Adult business zoning passes by unanimous vote in Hamilton Township

Residents of the Bartonsville area of Hamilton Township are afraid their elected officials are turning the Route 611 corridor into a red light district in order to preserve quality of life in the rest of the township.

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By CHRIS REBER

poconorecord.com

By CHRIS REBER

Posted Jun. 26, 2013 at 12:01 AM

By CHRIS REBER

Posted Jun. 26, 2013 at 12:01 AM

» Social News

Residents of the Bartonsville area of Hamilton Township are afraid their elected officials are turning the Route 611 corridor into a red light district in order to preserve quality of life in the rest of the township.

The township supervisors voted 3-0 Tuesday to approve an amendment to the zoning ordinance that limits adult businesses, such as topless bars and adult bookstores, to the C-2 commercial district, located along Route 611 in the township.

Before the vote, about 30 township residents from adjacent residential zones spoke out against the changes, questioning why the supervisors chose their section of the township, and why adult businesses have to be in the township anyway.

"What are we saying about where we live, and what type of communities are we trying to develop?" Vallia Cilli said.

Officials say the ordinance is aimed at preventing adult businesses from moving into residentially zoned areas. Township solicitor John Dunn told residents that without a specific zone for adult businesses, a business owner could potentially open up in any district they choose.

The new C-2 district was chosen because it is the smallest in the township, and already has two adult bookstores, he said.

"Is it better suited in an area that is not that large, and already has this type of harmful activity, or allow the harmful activity to expand and be elsewhere in the township?" Dunn asked residents.

Much of the discussion centered around the impact it would have on the families who have relocated to new developments in that area of Hamilton, and nearby areas of Pocono and Stroud townships. Parents said they don't want their children to be exposed to those businesses as they ride on the bus to school.

"You can call it whatever you want, it's going to be prostitution. I don't want to have my family even look at that. I don't want to look at it. It makes me sick," Stefano Bandera said.

"I don't think it's appropriate to be so close to a residential area with thousands of children," Bill Richmond said.

Residents said Route 611 serves as a gateway, not only to their own homes, but for tourists coming to the Poconos. Adult businesses could turn off those visitors, residents said.

"I still think this area is a tourist attraction. If we expect people to come here, this is not what we want them to see," Raymond Silva said.

Residents also expressed concern that adult businesses could discourage investment by other businesses on the corridor. They cited the large retailers that have located along the Route 611 corridor, over the last 15 years.

"You just built this up. We have all of these stores, restaurants in that area. Why put it there?" Sue Brunson said.

Some residents said that the township's residential sections didn't need the protection of an ordinance, because individual residents would fight and shut down any adult establishment that attempted to open there. Steven Bush cited a Scranton-area bookstore that shut down after neighbors videotaped customers who went inside.

"You need to trust the people who live here that they will rise up if somebody tries to open one of these," Bush said. "We would fight hard to prevent that from happening."